Journal of thoracic oncology : official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
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No comprehensive data are available on the molecular predictors of sensitivity to MET inhibitor in lung carcinomas. ⋯ MET amplification is an excellent predictor of PHA665752 sensitivity but not the sole predictor. High phospho-MET and dependence of the AKT and ERK pathways on MET activation may predict sensitivity to PHA665752, especially in KRAS-mutated cell lines.
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A large group of interacting molecular factors, involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling, and G1 mitotic phase, are shown to play an important role in cancerogenesis and progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Since success concerning potential correlations, structural and numeric gene aberrations, and biological risk assessment of these molecular factors are still lacking, combined analysis of a multitude of intertwined factors is currently a promising approach. ⋯ The results emphasize that deregulation of controlling factors of the early G1 phase is of significant oncogenic relevance and may represent a potential treatment target in NSCLC.
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Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive, uniformly fatal tumor usually caused by exposure to asbestos. Soluble mesothelin has been intensively investigated in the serum as a biomarker for this disease. As urine is less complex and less invasive to collect than serum and may be a more acceptable specimen for large-scale screening studies of asbestos-exposed individuals, we determined whether the sensitivity and specificity for MM could be improved by measuring soluble mesothelin in the urine. ⋯ The sensitivity of urinary mesothelin does not warrant the use of urine as a biomarker specimen for MM diagnosis.